Combined electric heater and air circulator



Sept. 24, 1946. E o 2,408,286

COMBINED ELECTRIC HEATER AND AIR CIRCULATOR Filed Dec. 14, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Jab/2M Qmjem BY J ATTORNEYS Sept. 24, 1946.

J. M. AUFIERO COMBINED ELECTRIC'HEATER AND AIR CIRCULAI'OR 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

Patented Sept. 24, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED ELECTRICHEATER AND AIR CIRCULATOR Application December 14, 1945, Serial No.635,060

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a compact, easily portable, combinationelectric fan and electric heating unit to provide a directed circulationof cool or warmed air.

As will hereinafter appear, the invention may be used as an electricfan, or as heating means for supplementing the normal heating of roomsin the household, or in providing temporary heat in rooms which may betemporarily unheated.

In homes or buildings having automatically controlled heating equipment,it is usual to set the thermostat during the night hours at such a lowcontrol point that the temperature of the rooms of the building may dropto 55 or 60 degrees. Open windows in a bedroom or nursery willadditionally lower the room temperature. Low temperature sleeping roomsare a health hazard when it is necessary to arise during the night, aswhen a parent must go into a nursery to attend to an infant. A portableheating device, such as disclosed herein, may be brought into the roomor nursery to provide a localized heat source which will raise thetemperature to a safe and comfortable level. The heater embodying thepresent invention may be placed in close proximity to draperies, bedclothes or the like with perfect safety and freedom from danger of fire.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide anelectric heater and air circulator which combines high heat output withcomplete afety in operation, so that when used as a heater, the same maybe placed on furniture, or in proximity to draperies or otherinflammable material, without fire hazard.

It is another object of the invention to provide a portable heaterhaving high thermal output but in which no external or exposed structureor element can rise to a temperature which will be dangerous to personsor objects which may come into contact therewith.

It is an object of the invention to provide a combined heating andventilating unit having motor driven fan means and a heating element,and in which the fan may operate with the heating element deenergized,but in which the heating element may not be energized without having thefan in operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a unit capable of beingused as an air circulating fan or as a heating means, in which the fanspeed automatically drops upon energization of the heating means toprovide the velocity of air flow over the heating unit most favorablefor the abstraction of heat therefrom.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an improved meansfor mounting a motor and a heating coil, said mounting means beingassembled from a plurality of identical sheet metal stampings.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a combined heater and air circulatorembodying the present invention, a portion of the front panel, and thefan, having been removed to reveal underlying structure;

Fig. 2 is a plan section taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing thefan in operative position;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, in section on lines 33 of Fi 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the motor suspension rackets;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the means ofsupporting the fan motor in a floating mount;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the motor and mounting, the rear coverplate of the motor being partially broken away;

Fig. '7 is a bottom plan detail of the motor support at its point ofconnection with the upper wall of the heater casing; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are details showing a preferred means of securing thefront and rear grilles to the casing.

Referring to the drawings, the combined heater and air circulator ll!includes a housing having front and rear sections H and I2, which may beidentical in shape and size. The housings have grilles l4 and I5, alsoidentical, suitably secured to the housing as by the integral studs ISprojecting from the inner walls of the grilles through the wall of thehousing and secured by friction nuts I! as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Thegrilles permit the free flow of air into and through the housingalthough the bars of the grilles are relatively close together (see Fig.2) to prevent draperies, for example, from being blown against the fanblades or heat coil. Suitable ornamental feet it! which space the bottomof the casing above any supporting surface, and a suitable carryinghandle l9, complete the casing.

Disposed centrally within the housing is a motor 2E! having a fan 2!secured to a forwardly projecting motor shaft. A motor and heat coilsupport structure 22 supports the motor and a heating coil 23, as laterexplained. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the heat coil ispractically 3. in the center vertical plane of the casing. The center ofgravity of the fan, motor, and heat coil assembly is likewisesubstantially in the center plane of the casing, thus affording a verystable and practically ti roof, structure.

The support structure 22 comprises two identical brackets, preferably ofcold rolled steel of suitable thickness, and formed, see Fig. 3, withangular extensions 25, 25 of substantial width respectively at the topand bottom. The relatively narrow upper and lower center post members 26are interconnected by an integral semicircular element 2'! ofsubstantially greater width than the post members. Two brackets areplaced back to back, whereupon the upper extensions and lower extensionsprovide a supporting head and foot for securement to the casing, and thesemicircular structures 21 form a circular pocket within which the motor20 may be positioned. As shown in Fig. 7, the said extensions 24 areL-shaped, with the vertical bar of the L extending across the meetingline of the two casing halves. Brackets 28, 28 closely overlie therespective leg portions of the L, and through said brackets pass screws29 which provide for the securement of the handle I9. The respectiveupper extensions are screwed or bolted to the casing.

Preferably welded to the interior wall of the circular motor pocket areangle brackets 30, the radially extending ends of which have enlargedopenings within which are received and held rubber bushings 3|. Axialopenings in the said bushings receive the reduced diameter extensions 32f studs 33 which pass through and are secured to the frame structure 35of the motor 29. The ends of said extensions 32 are threaded to receivea nut, as illustrated, in Fig. 5, and hence the motor is fioatinglysuspended within the ring formed by the mating portions 21 of the motorsuspension. The maximum diameter of the motor is less, see Fig. 1, thanthe inside diameter of the motor support pocket. As shown in Fig. 5, theangle brackets terminate short of the rear wall of the members 21 andserve as stops to limit the extent of insertion of the rear motor coverplate 35, which is held in position by screws 36 or equivalent. Asappears in Fig. 6, the rear plate is foraminated to provide air flowpassages for cooling the motor.

Desirably, the fan blades provide a fan disc area as large as themaximum opening afforded by the grilles and therefore induce air flowthrough the casing over substantially the full grille area. The front ofthe motor is not enclosed, and the foraminated rear plate 35 permitsfree flow of cool air through and about the motor during the operationthereof.

The structure 22 also provides means for securing and supporting theplurality of identical heater coil carriers 37, said carriers beingformed from cold rolled steel to have an arcuate wall 38 terminating atone end in a branch 49 extending radially toward the center of the motorsupport ring and at the opposite end in a shorter branch 4! extendingradially away from said motor support. The two upper carriers are placedback to back with their shorter branches against the vertical postsections of the structure 22, whereupon rivets or the like passingthrough the complete assembly secure the two heater coil carriers andthe two upper posts of the structure into a rigid unit. In similarfashion the two lower heater coil carriers are secured to the motorsupport, by means of metal straps 35 riv--' eted to the said structure.The heater coil 23, positioned within the insulation blocks asaforesaid, follows a sinuous path, as shown in Fig. 1. Obviously thenumber and disposition of the insulating blocks depends upon the numberof coils to be included in the heating unit. When the unit is to drawcurrent from conventional house lighting circuits, the heating coil issized to draw about 1300 watts; heavier duty coils may be used accordingto the capabilities of heavier-duty wir ing circuits.

At the bottom of the housing it is preferred to provide a reflectorplate 53, supportedabove the lowermost wall by means of tubular spacers41 through which pass bolts 53 which secure the lower structuralextensions 25 to the casing. As shown in Fig. 3, a strap or bracket isriveted or otherwise fastened to the forward casing H and extendsrearwardly to closely overlie the said extensions 25. In this fashion,the casing halves are securely joined, it being understood that the feetI8, secured to the front and rear casing halves by conventional means(not shown) assist in such securement.

The electric lead 52 may enter the housing at any convenient point, andmay be secured to the sidewall of the casing by brackets or otherconventional means. Conveniently disposed, as ad- J'acent the handle,isa double-throw switch 53 which in one throw position will energize theheating coil and in the other, the motor alone. It will be understoodthat the switch has an off position disconnecting the power circuit. Oneconductor of the two conductor lead 52 is electrically connected to thethrow arm of the switch; the return lead is connected to a binding post54 at the end of the heating coil. A conductor 55 leads from one of thethrow positions of the double throw switch 53 to a binding post 56 atthe opposite end of the coil 23. when the switch is in this throwposition, the heatin coil will be energized. A conductor 51 connects theopposite throw position of the switch with one of the motor field coilleads. A conductor 58 of suitable resistance is electrically connectedto the heater coil and to the same field coil lead. The opposite end' ofthe field coil winding is connected by conductor 60 to binding post 54.

'It will be seen therefore that assuming the switch handle Bl to be inthe heat coil energizing position as seen in Fig. 1, current will flowthrough the conductor 52, switch 53, conductor 55, to heat coil bindingpost 55, thence through the heat coil to binding post 55, at which it isconnected to the return lead of the two conductor system. At the sametime, current will be drawn to the motor through lead 58 and thencethrough lead 50 to post 55. The motor will therefore operate so long asthe heater coil is energized, and by tapping the lead 58 into the heatercoil at a suitable resistance point, the normal speed of the motor maybe reduced due to the relatively small resistance of the heater coil inparallel with the much greater resistance of the Thus,

motor circuit. It is desirable to establish the motor speed at a rate atwhich the fan will draw air through the casing and over the heater coilin sufficient volume at suflicient velocity to prevent the heater coilfrom attaining a, cherryred temperature.

When the device is to be used as an electric fan, i. e. without heatingeffect, the switch 53 may be thrown to its second throw position whereinthe heating coil lead 55 is disconnected from the power source, and themotor is energized through conductor 5? and 6E. The motor circuit is notinfluenced by the less resistance of the heater coil, and the speed ofrotation of the motor is correspondingly faster, producing greater airdisplacement.

It has been previously noted that the heater coil is in substantiallythe vertical center plane of the casing. Hence, the heater coil isremote from either grille; this condition, plus the circumstance thatthe heater coil cannot be energized without simultaneously causingoperation of the fan, protects against the generation of a scorchingtemperature at either the front or rear grille. Therefore, even if theunit were knocked or placed face down on a piece of furniture or ablanket, many minutes would elapse before the temperature of the surfaceon which the unit has been lyin is raised to a dangerous point.

When the unit rests in normal vertical position, the plate 46 acts as areflector and is an effective additional insulation means which preventsthe lower wall of the casing from attaining even a moderately hightemperature.

Although the invention has been described by making a fully detailedreference to the certain presently preferred embodiments, such detail ofdescription is to be understood in an instructive rather than a limitingsense, many changes being possible within the scope of the claims heretoappended.

I claim:

A combination electric fan and heater, comprising a casing having matingfront and rear sections disposed in edge to edge relationshipsubstantially centrally of the casing, each of said casing sectionshaving an enlarged wall opening: grille means including relativelyclosely spaced elements secured to said casing sections over saidopenings to permit air flow through the casing while guarding againstthe introduction of foreign objects thereinto; a motor and heat coilsupport structure extending transversely within said casing and havingend members extending from one to the other of said mating casingsections and secured thereto to unite said sections; motor and therewithassociated fan supported by said structure; a plurality of rigid arcuateelements fixed to said support structure and defining an interruptedcircle substantially concentric with the motor, said. arcuate elementshaving branches extending radially; a plurality of axially extendingblocks of insulation material fixed to said branches; and a heat coilsupported in said blocks and arranged in a substantially helical courseintermediate said support structure and said fan; said support structurebeing so disposed within said casing as to locate the center of gravityof the motor and heat coil assembly in substantially the vertical centerplate of the casing.

2. A combination electric fan and heater comprising a casing formed frommating sections disposed in edge to edge relationship, said casinghaving front and rear wall openings; motor support means within saidcasing and having end members bridging said casing sections to securethe same together, said support means including a ring-like sectionintermediate the ends thereof; angle brackets fixed to and extendingforwardly of said section and having free end portions extendingradially thereof; resilient bushings in said end portions; and a motordisposed within said ring-like section and supported out of contact withthe walls thereof solely by attachment to said resilient bushings.

3. A combination electric fan and heater, comprising a casing; motorsupport means secured therein, said motor support means includingidentical structures placed back to back and providing head and footsections for securement to said casing and a centrally disposedsubstantially cylindrical motor-support section; angle brackets fixed tosaid motor-support section and having end portions extending inwardlyradially thereof; resilient bushings aiiixed to said end portions; amotor within said motor support section; and means for supporting saidmotor out of contact with the walls of said section, comprising studmeans fixed to and extending axially of said motor frame and secured tosaid bushings.

4. In an air displacement apparatus, a combined motor mount and heatcoil support means, comprising a substantially circular section toaccommodate a motor; means for supporting said motor Within said sectionbut out of physical contact therewith; support post means secured to andextending from diametrically opposite sides of said section; arcuatesupporting members fixed to said post means and collectively defining aninterrupted circle concentric with said center section; insulatorssecured to said support post means and to said arcuate members; and heatcoil means secured to said insulators and defining a substantiallyhelical course about said motor section.

5. In an air displacement apparatus, a combined motor mount and heatcoil support means, comprising a pair of identical rigid elements placedback to back to define a central substantially circular motor-receivingsection and support-post means extending from diametrically oppositesides thereof a plurality of identical, substantially arcuate membersaffixed to said support post means at each side thereof and collectivelydefining an interrupted circle concentric with said center section;insulators secured to said support post means and to said arcuatemembers; and heat coil means supported by said insulators in a coursesurrounding said motor receiving section,

6. In an air displacement apparatus, a casing formed of two halfportions placed back to back; a combined motor mount and heat coilsupport means disposed within said casing and having head and footmembers extending from one to the other of said casing portions andsecured to each said casing portions to provide a main means ofsecurement therefor; said support means further including asubstantially circular motorreceiving section supported intermediatesaid head and foot members by rigid support-post means extendingtherebetween; a plurality of arcuate members fixed to said support-postmeans and collectively defining an interrupted circle disposed aboutsaid motor-receiving section; insulators afiixed to said support-postmeans and said arcuate members and extending axially forwardly thereof;a heat coil carried by said insulators in a course disposed about saidmotor-receiving section; a motor disposed within said section; and meansfor resiliently supporting said motor therein out of physical contactwith the walls of said section.

7. A combination electric fan and heater, comprising a casing formed ofmating substantially identical front and rear sections disposed in edgeto edge relationship, said sections having relatively large wallopening; grille means including relatively closely spaced elementssecured to said sections over said openings to permit air flowtherethrough while guarding against the entry of foreign bodies intosaid casing; a motor and heat coil support structure extendingtransversely within said casing and having enlarged end mem- 8 bers incontact with and extending from one to the other of said casingsections, said end members being secured to said casing sections to formmeans of mutually securing the same; a substantially cylindrical motorsection integral with said support structure and disposed intermediatethe ends thereof; a, motor and therewith associated fan resilientlysupported within said cylindrical section; an electric heat coilinsulatedly carried by said support structure and extending about saidmotor section; and a reflector plate disposed above the bottom Wall ofsaid casing and intermediate said wall and said heater coil to insulatesaid wall from the radiant heat of said coil.

' JOHN M. AUFIERO.

